Episode

Catherine A John, "Afroindigenization: A Theory of Grassroots Cultural Practice" (Duke UP, 2026)

Podcast
New Books in Literary Studies
Published
Sep 15, 2026
Duration seconds
2524
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NBNK6282527481.mp3
Audio
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/NBNK6282527481.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/new-books-in-literary-studies-1048453/episodes/catherine-a-john-afroindigenization-a-theory-of-grassroots-cultural-practice-duke-up-2026
Markdown
/podcast/new-books-in-literary-studies-1048453/catherine-a-john-afroindigenization-a-theory-of-grassroots-cultural-practice-duke-up-2026.md

Actions

  • POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/new-books-in-literary-studies-1048453/episodes/catherine-a-john-afroindigenization-a-theory-of-grassroots-cultural-practice-duke-up-2026/transcription-requests
    Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
  • GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/new-books-in-literary-studies-1048453/catherine-a-john-afroindigenization-a-theory-of-grassroots-cultural-practice-duke-up-2026.md
    Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

Summary

In Afroindigenization: A Theory of Grassroots Cultural Practice (Duke University Press, 2026), Catherine A. John addresses the underbelly of spiritual resilience shaping a range of African diasporic institutions, traditions, and practices. John argues that repressed forms of indigenous African knowledge systems manifest in a myriad of culturally embodied ways in African diaspora spaces and places. From mermaid lore in rural Jamaica to hip-hop trance-induced dance in Los Angeles to the stories of two debaters-turned-social-media-influencers, John shows how the descendants of enslaved Africans express the signs and substance of their afroindigenous power through collective creativity. Drawing from scholars such as Vèvè Clark, Hortense Spillers, Dianne M. Stewart, and Sylvia Wynter, Afroindigenization exposes the cultural and spiritual ancestries that lie at the heart of modern Black identities and practices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies